Flasher



June 5, 1945 R ss 2,377,775

- FLASHER Filed Sept. 11, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 05 i Jzfi 1 I? iii:

1E INVENTOR.

l/erz z/ E 6777065 June 5, 1945 H. R. GROSS 2,377,775

FLASHER Filed Sept. 11, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 5, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE '7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in flashers, and more particularly to electromagnetically operated, periodic switches.

An object of the invention is to provide an electrically operable flasher switch and an electrical circuit in which said flasher switch is incorporated to alter periodically the current supplied to a lamp or other signal device so that the lamp or device may be caused to flash or operate periodically.

Prior flashers have not been entirely satisfactory because changes in the ambient temperature efiected changes in the periodicity of operation of the flasher, and because those which were rugged were only useful where a low rate or frequency of flashing was permissible or desirable and those which were operable at a relatively high rate or frequency were fragile. It is accordingly an important object of the invention to provide a device of the character described which is rugged, not affected by variations in ambient temperature, and is operable at a. relatively high rate or frequency.

Prior mechanical or electromechanical periodic or flasher switches have not proven satisfactory where high frequency of flashing is required because of the inertia of the parts and their tendency to stick. It is accordingly 8. further object of the invention to provide an electrically operable periodic or flasher switch which is rugged and certain of operation; in which the inertia of the moving parts is negligible, and sticking oi the switch in any control position is precluded.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a flasher switch which is compact in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, simple of installation, and particularly adapted for controlling the turn signals and pilot lights of an auto turn signal system.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in central longitudinal section of a flasher switch embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section taken substantially along the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary further enlarged view in section taken along the line 3-4 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a view in section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a View in section taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a view in elevation taken along the line 6-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a view in section taken along the line 'l-1 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view in perspective of a solenoid, part of the flasher found in Figures 1t0 Figure 9 is a view similar to, Figure 3, showing the parts in a different position of operation.

Figures 10 and 1.1 are fragmentary enlarged views in section similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in diife'rent positions of operation.

Figure 12 is a. diagrammatic view of the flasher and schematically showing the circuit in which the flasher is connected.

Heretofore various types of periodic electric switches or flashers have been developed. The

more ruggedof these devices have been unsat-- isfalctory because of their slowness of action. Various suggestions have been made to improve the speed of action, but with the consequent disadvantages her'etofore stated. Known thermoresponsive flasher devices which have operated sufflciently rapidly are particularly sensitive to variations in temperature or other atmospheric conditions which in all cases cause a marked decrease in their rapidity of action and in some cases render the device completely inoperative. A marked decrease in the rapidity of action of a flasrer device .with changes in temperature or other weather conditions creates grave danger where the device is used to operate the turn signals of an automobile, for, as frequently occurs, due to such decrease in the speed of action of the flasher no turn signal whatsoever is given before the turn is made or begun. Bimetallic strips or other thermo-responsive blades which have been developed for use in such devices are, generally speaking, too slow in action, as are also thermoexpansible wires of appreciable diameter. Thermo-expansible wires of sufficiently small diameter, i. e. approximately .007 of an inch, which are sufficiently rapid in action under the most favorable conditions are unsatisfactorily fragile and highly sensitive to changes in ambient temperature or variations in other atmospheric conditions, and become, under any but the most fa vorable conditions, too slow in action. This invention contemplates the production of a device rugged in all its parts, insensitive to changes in temperature or other atmospheric conditions, and adapted to function quickly and with constant periodicity.

As shown in the drawings, a flasher 2 comprises a solenoid 4 which includes a coil 4 mounted in a cup-shaped housing 3 closed at one end by a magnetic annulus I surrounding a tube I2 of brass or like material fitted in the coil 0 and closed at its inner end I4. The tube I2 preferably abuts at its closed end I4 a magnetic plug I6 received at the inner end of coil 6 and fitted into the bottom of the cup-shaped housing 8. In the tube I2 is slidably fitted a magnetically susceptible tube or hollow plunger I3 closed at its inner end 20. A tube 22 of magnetically susceptible material extends into the tube or hollow plunger I8 in radially spaced relation thereto and is formed with an annular end flange 24 abutting the outer end of the stationary tube I2. The tube 22 is also formed with a transverse wall or partition 28 forming an inner chamber 28 and an outer chamber 30. A solenoid or relay 32 is mounted in the inner chamber 20 and is formed of a coil 34 wound upon a hollow rod 36 of magnetically susceptible material, between end insulating discs 33 and 40, which latter snugly flt the tube 22. The core rod 36 extends beyond the and disc 30, through a central aperture in the transverse wall 20 and is peened over to secure it to said wall. An insulating disc 42 is secured as by screws 44 to the outer surface of the transverse wall 26 and has fastened thereto by suitable rivets a terminal blade 40 carrying a stationary contact 43 which cooperates with a movable contact 50 carried by a resilient switch blade 52 formed integrally with a terminal blade 54 riveted or otherwise fastened to the disc 42.

The core rod 36 extends also beyond the end disc 40 and is formed in spaced relation to that disc with an enlarged cylindrical head 50 to which an insulating disc 53 is fastened as by screws 60. A spring 02 in the form of a generally T-shaped strap is secured to the outer surface of the disc as by a rivet 04 (Figure 4) and a plurality of angularly spaced resilient contact blades 66, 68 and 10 (Figure is secured to the inner face of the disc as by rivets I2. Pins or wires I4 are secured to the ends of the cross arm of the spring 62 and pass through openings in the disc 58. A disc or armature ii of magnetically susceptible material receives the opposite ends of the pins I4 and is soldered to said pins. The armature disc I0 carries angularly spaced contact pins 18, 00 and 32 adapted to engage the contact blades 66, B8 and 10. The armature disc I5 is loosely received on core rod 36 for movement longitudinally thereof. A conducting ring 84 is secured to the armature disc between contact pins I0, 80 and 32, and is insulated from the armature disc by an insulating ring or disc 85. The contact pins are insulated from the armature disc as by the insulating bushings 88. A switch actuating wire 30 extends through the hollow core rod 36 and receives on its outer end an insulating sleeve 32 forming an abutment by means of which the switch blade 52 is actuated. A bead 94 is secured to the wire 30 in longitudinally spaced relation to the sleeve. The wire 90 extends from the end of the core rod 36 through central apertures in the disc 58 and the arm of the spring 62, and is secured as by soldering to the bottom 20 of the plunger I8. One end 96 of the coil 34 extends from the tube 22 through aligned openings in the insulating disc 38, the transverse wall 28 and the insulating disc 42, as shown in Figure 3, while the other end 88 of the coil extends through aligned openings in the insulating disc 40 and the armature disc I6 and is secured as by soldering to the contact blade 56, as shown in Figures.

10 and 11. Insulated wires I00 and I02 extend longitudinally of the coil 34 and from the tube 22 through aligned openings in the insulating discs 30, 40 and 42, the transverse wall 26, and the armature disc 16, as shown in Figures 3, 6, 7, 8, 10 and 11. These wires are secured at their inner ends to the contact blades 63 and 10, as indicated in Figure 5. The wire I00 is soldered at its outer end to the terminal 54 of the resilient switch blade 52, as diagrammatically indicated in Figure 12.

A helical spring I04 is received in the space between the tube 22 and the plunger I0 and at its inner end is soldered or otherwise fastened as at I00 (Figure 9) to the bottom 20 of the plunger while the outer end I08 of the spring passes through an opening in the flange 24 of the tube 22 and is bent over to secure the spring to the tube. The coil spring I04 is extended or tensioned as the plunger is moved inwardly of the tube I2 when the solenoid 4 is energized, and serves to return or move the plunger outwardly of the tube I 2 when that solenoid is deenergized. Air openings I09 (Figure 6) may be of predetermined size to regulate the speed of movement of the plunger. A cup-shaped cap member IIO, preferably of a molded insulating material, fits over the end of the solenoid housing 0 and encloses the projecting portion of the tube I2 and the parts mounted therein. of the coil 34 on which is fitted an insulating sleeve I I2 extends through the cap member H0 and forms one of the leads for the flasher switch. The insulated wire I02 similarly extends through the cap H0 and a like insulated wire I I4 soldered at its inner end to the switch blade 46 similarly extends through the cap member N0, the wires I02 and H4 forming supply and control leads for the flasher switch. Insulated wires II! and II 3 secured to the ends of the coil 6 of the solenoid 4 extend through suitable openings in the annulus I0 and in the cap member IIO to form additional supply leads for the flasher switch. The flasher switch may be connected to the control circuit as shown in Figure 12. Thus, the supply lead II6 may be connected directly as by wire I20 to the positive side of a battery I22, or other source of electric energy grounded on its negative side. The wire H8 may be connected directly to the movable blade I24 of a single pole, double throw selector switch I26. The supply lead II4 may be connected directly to the battery lead I20 in common with the wire H6. The wire 96 may be connected to the movable blade I24 of the selector switch in common with the wire H8. The wire I02 may be connected directly to the ungrounded side of a grounded pilot signal light or device I20. The fixed contact I30 of the selector switch I28 may be connected as by wire I32 and wires I34 and I36, in parallel, to the left front turn signal light I30 and the left rear turn signal light I40. Similarly the fixed contact I42 of the selector switch I26 may be connected by wire I44 and wires I46 and I40, in parallel, to the right front turn signal light I50 and the right rear turn signal light I52.

The flasher or flasher switch operates as follows. Upon movement of the blade I24 of the selector switch into engagement with one of the fixed contacts of that switch as for example the contact I30, acircuit is completed from the battery I22 through wires I20, solenoid coil 3,

The end wire 30 the wires H6, N8, the switch blade I24, the contact I38, and wires I32, I34 and I38, to the signal lights I38 and I40. The coil 6 of the solenoid 4 being energized, the magnetically susceptible plunger is drawn inwardly of the stationary tubei2. As this plunger moves inwardly the actuating wire 90 also moves inwardly oi.

the core rod 36 and in its initial movement permits the blade 52 to move inwardly and bring the contact 58 into engagement with the stationary contact 48. No additional circuit is completed at this time however, since the contact blade 68 to which the wire I88 from the switch blade 58 is connected, is not engaged by the contact pin I8.

As the plunger proceeds to its inner limit of movement, shown in Figures 9 and 11, the bead 34 and the wire 88 engage cross arm of the spring 62 and through this spring and the pins I4 move the armature disc I6 toward the insulating disc 58 and the switch blades carried thereby. When the plunger attains its inner limit of movement, at the same instant the armature disc 16 is moved to the left sufficiently to engage the contact pins I8, 88 and 82 with the contact blades '66, 68 and 10. The circuit is thereby completed from the positive side of the battery I22 through the wire I28, the wire II4, stationary contact 48, movable contact 50, switch blade 52, wire I00, switch blade 68, contact pin I8, conducting ring 84, contact pin 88, switch blade 66, wire 98, coil 34, wire 86, to switch blade I24 in shunt to the solenoid coil 6. Since the coil 34 is of much lower resistance than the coil 6, the shunting of the latter through the former in effect deenergizes the coil 6 and permits sufiicient current to flow to the signal lights to bring them to full or substantially full brilliance. The circuit to the pilot signal I28 is completed in shunt to the coil 34 and the set of turn signals from the conducting ring 84, through contact pin 82, switch blade I8, and wire I02, to the ungrounded side of the pilot lamp I28.

Upon deenergization of the coil 6 of the solenoid 4, the spring I04 immediately causes outward movement of the plunger. The coil 34 of the relay or solenoid 32 being energized, it maintains by magnetic attraction the armature disc I6 against the enlarged part 56 of the core rod, and hence maintains the contact pins I8, 88, and 82 in engagement with the switch blades 66, 68 and I8 while the plunger I8 is being moved outwardly by the spring I84. At the same instant that the plunger reaches its outward limit of movement in which it engages the annular flange 24 of the tube 22, the insulating sleeve 92 on the outer end of the wire 30 pushes the switch lever 52 outwardly to disengage the contact 58 from the contact 48 and thereby breaks the circuit to the coil 34 of the relay 32. The spring 62 immediately moves the armature disc I6 away from the annular part 56 of the core rod 36, the spring 62 being suiliciently tensioned to overcome the residual magnetic attraction between the part 56 and the armature disc I6. Hence the contact pins I8, 88 and 82 are moved out of engagement with the switch blades 66, 68 and I8 so that the circuit to the relay coil 34 is additionally broken at the switch blades 66 and 68 and the circuit broken to the pilot signal I28. While the pilot signal is thus extinguished, and since the coil 6 ofthe solenoid 4 is of relatively high resistance, the current to the turn signals is materially diminished and preferably below the value required for producing incandescence oi the turn signal lamps. It will be evident, oi course, that the current reduction efiected need not necessarily be below the value required to produce incandescence, but any reduction sufilcient to give a clear indication or to cause the lamps to flash will be sufilcient.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing illustrative description and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a flasher device, a first solenoid, a plunger moved in one direction by said solenoid, a second solenoid over which said plunger moves, a control switch, means for operating said control switch and energizing said second solenoid as the plunger reaches its limit in said one direction, means for rendering the first solenoid inefiective to hold the plunger when the plunger reaches its limit of movement insaid one direction, means for moving the plunger in the opposite direction while said first solenoid is rendered ineffective and said second solenoid is energized, said second solenoid having an armature connected to the control switch to maintain said control switch in its operated position during movement of the plunger in said opposite direction, means operated by the plunger for deenergizing the second solenoid and rendering the first solenoid effective upon completion of the movement of theplunger in said opposite direction, and means for returning said control switch to its original position upon deenergization of the second solenoid.

2. In a flasher device, a first solenoi having a hollow plunger movable in one direction when the solenoid is energized, and a guide for said plunger, a second solenoid mounted within said guide in spaced relation thereto to permit movement of the hollow plunger over said second solenoid, spring means for moving said plunger in the opposite direction when the first solenoid is rendered ineiiective to hold the plunger, said second solenoid having a movable armature and contactmeans carried by said armature, cooperating sta tionary contact means, means actuated by the plunger for moving said armature carried contact means into engagement with said cooperating contact means as the plunger reaches its limit of movement in said one direction, a circuit including said armature carried contact means and said stationary contact means for energizing said second solenoid and rendering the first solenoid ineffective to hold the plunger upon completion of the movement of the plunger in said one direction, means operated by the plunger for deenergizing the second solenoid upon completion of the movement of the plunger in said opposite direction, said circuit including means for rendering th first solenoid effective to again move the hollow plunger upon deenergization of the second solenoid, and means for moving said armature and the contact means carried thereby away from the stationary contact means upon deenergization of the second solenoid.

3. In a flasher, a first solenoid having a coil surrounding a stationary cylinder of relatively nonmagnetic material, a second cylinder 01' magnetically susceptible material slidably supported in said first cylinder, a third cylinder in the second cylinder in' radially spaced relation, meansfor securing said third cylinder against movement longitudinally of the first cylinder, a coil spring in said first and second cylinders and surrounding the third cylinder, said spring being secured at one end to the second cylinder and at the other end to one of the first and third cylinders, a second solenoid mounted in the third cylinder, said second solenoid having a hollow core, a switch actuator secured to said second cylinder and passing through said hollow core of the second solenoid, switch means operated by said actuator and constructed to energize the second solenoid and render the first solenoid ineiIective to hold the second cylinder as the second cylinder reaches its limit or movement in one direction under the control of the first solenoid and to deenergize said second solenoid and to render the first solenoid effective to again move the second cylinder as the second cylinder reaches its limit oi movement in the opposite direction under the action of said spring, said switch means including contacts for controlling an external circuit.

4. In a flasher, a solenoid having a hollow core, a first switch means mounted at one end of said solenoid, a second switch means including an armature of the solenoid mounted at the other end of the solenoid in magnetic relation to the solenoid core, a cylindrical plunger oi magneticalto said plunger and extending through the hollow core of said solenoid, said wire carrying abutments constructed and arranged alternately to operate said first and second switch means as the plunger reaches first its limit of movement in one direction and then its limit of movement in the opposite direction, a second solenoid for moving said plunger in one direction, and means for moving said plunger in the opposite direction when the second solenoid is rendered ineffective to hold the plunger, said first and second switch means being constructed and adapted to be arranged in a circuit for energizing the first solenoid and rendering the second solenoid ineffective to hold the plunger upon predetermined movement of the plunger under the action of the second solenoid and deenergizing the first solenoid and rendering the second solenoid effective to move the plunger upon predetermined movement oi the plunger in the opposite direction, one of said switch means including contacts adapted to control a load circuit periodically to make and break said load circuit.

5. In a flasher, a solenoid within a solenoid, a plunger between said solenoids and movable in one direction when the outer solenoid is rendered eilective, a rod secured to said plunger extending through the inner solenoid, switches operable by said rod and connected in circuit to the said solenoids and adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy for first rendering the outer solenoid effective and the inner solenoid ineffective and then rendering the outer solenoid ineiiective and the inner solenoid eflective as the plunger reaches its opposite limits of movement, the inner solenoid having an annature connected to one 0! said switches to maintain that switch in closed position during the time the inner solenoid is rendered efiective. said one switch being constructed and arranged to control an external load circuit.

6. In a flasher, a pair 01 solenoids, one 0! the solenoids being of comparatively low resistance with respect to the other, a plunger operable in one direction by the solenoid of relatively higher resistance, a pair of switches adapted when closed to shunt the solenoid 01' higher resistance by the solenoid of lower resistance whereby to render the solenoid of higher resistance inefiective to hold the plunger, means connected to the plunger for operating one of said switches to closed position when the plunger reaches its limit of movement in said one direction and operable to open the other of said switches when the plunger reaches its limit of movement in the opposite direction, means for moving the plunger in said opposite direction, said switches being connected conjointly to control the energization oi! the solenoid of lower resistance, one of said switches including an armature magnetically controlled by the solenoid of lower resistance.

7. In a flasher device, a pair of solenoids of relatively high and low resistance, a pair of switches in series controlling the connection of the solenoid of low resistance in shunt to the solenoid of high resistance, a plunger movable in one direction by the solenoid of higher resistance, means for moving the plunger in the opposite direction when the solenoid of higher resistance is rendered ineffective by the connection 01 the solenoid of low resistance in shunt to the solenoid of higher resistance, means urging the first of said switches to open switch position, means urging the second of said switches to closed position, means connected to the plunger for closing the first switch when the plunger reaches its limit of movement in said one direction and for opening the second switch when the plunger reaches its limit of movement in said opposite direction, said first switch including an armature oi the solenoid of lower resistance to maintain said first switch in closed position during movement oi the plunger in said opposite direction, and means adapted to connect said solenoids to a source 01 energy and a load device whereby the current to said load device is alternately increased and decreased as the plunger moves first in one direction and then in the opposite direction.

HENRY R. GROSS. 

